25Smash BEGINS!
And we're off!
The 25Smash season has begun with a bang I might add.
Sponsored by the Cricket Web Bar.
Cricket Web Red v Cricket Web Green
CRICKET WEB GREEN 198/2 25.0 overs
CRICKET WEB RED 151/2 25.0 overs
Cricket Web Green won by 47 runs
Man of the match: Blewy
The Greens won the toss and were out of the gates in blazing fashion, taking 11 runs from the second over of the innings and 14 off the third. Lord of Darkness accounted for 16 of those runs and looked in prime touch. Smart changes of pace reeled the situation in again and then Mr Wright had Cloete LBW to a ball which may have been heading down the legside. Just 3 balls after, Mr Wright had Darkness (on 37) dropped - a simple chance to Deeps at point. In Wright's next over he saw Marc floor a catch off Blewy's bat (on 5). Blewy advanced further to 23 and the was put down again, this time by Deeps off Zebra's bowling.
Those chances would be crucial misses and 10 runs were scored from the next Markus over to signal a charge from the score of 84/1 after 13 overs to 198 from 25 - 114 runs from 12 overs. Blewy crashed Ghansar for two towering sixes in an over to get to his half-century from only 32 balls, joining Darkness who got to his from 42. The two batsmen added 109 runs for the 2nd wicket and set up a huge total.
Chasing, the Reds never really got going in the face of some tight full-length bowling from Timewell and Rose. Bugssy tried to stir up the innings with a brisk half-century knock, but Markus at the other end found timing the ball difficult. Dave came and went to the bowling of Rose and Andre wasn't allowed enough time for a significant impact as the Greens tightened the screws.
Cricket Web Black v Australia A
AUSTRALIA 'A' 168/3 25.0 overs
CW BLACK 172/1 21.5 overs
CW Black won by 9 wickets
Man of the match: Eclipse
Electing to chase rather than set a target, the Blacks took the field after winning the toss. The initial bowling from Broadbent and Blaster produced wickets but was rather expensive. Indeed Maher hit Broadbent for a sequence of 4,6,4 immediately before his dismissal. Mike Hussey, batting at 3, was calm yet unorthodox in rotating the strike and hitting timely boundaries. At the other end David Hussey was solid in support. The two bowlers found life a bit more difficult against the spinners, especially Superkingdave.
Pickup started loosely with 18 runs surrendered from 2 overs, but tightened up a bit after that. The pick of the bowlers has to have been Dark Hunter though, who bowled 4-0-18-0 before he bowled the 24th over and gave up 10 runs. Master Blaster was also quite good in bowling his first 4 overs for just 16 runs, but giving up 3 boundaries and 17 runs in total from his 5th - the 25th over.
Set a challenging total, the Blacks openers came out in flambouyant mood. They took command with 75 runs from the first 10 overs and never looked back. Eclipse raced to 50 from 43 balls then accelerated further before Blewett trapped him LBW attempting to paddle-sweep. Chaulk had reached 50 from 44 balls and guided the Blacks home with the help of former CW XI captain, Rich_2001.
Cricket Web Blue v England A
Peter Young called heads and got heads then elected to bowl first on a flat PDV Dome pitch. The Blues then put on the most disciplined and effective of bowling performances on the day of 25Smash cricket. Patrick got Kabir Ali early and Broncoman had Troughton after a good cameo. Bell too played a cameo then played on to Mr Mxyzptlk and the middle order proceeded to collapse. Halsey bowled the spell of the day and had the Englishmen in all sorts of problems and had two very close LBWs turned down.
Ultimately the Blues were set to chase a relatively small 122 to win. Things started with a BANG as StUEy and Craig raced along to 44 between them from 4 overs. The latter was caught at midon and a miniature collapse followed. Craig batted with great composure though and found a willing partner in Daniel Muhaffy with whom he added some 42 runs. The opener reached his half-century from 53 balls and eventually saw his team home, running a quick single to point for the winning run.